This document provides an overview of ethnography and how it can be used to study Jewish identity. It discusses: 1. Culture is the context from which Jewish identity emerges. Ethnography allows us to interpret culture and understand identity by examining behaviors, rituals, artifacts and worldview. 2. Qualitative interviews are one tool used in ethnography to collect data and understand identity. Students are assigned to interview Jewish participants and observe a synagogue to study themes of Jewish identity. 3. Four potential themes of Jewish identity that could emerge from student findings include engagement with Jewishness, descriptions of Jewish culture and identity, influence of social construction of identity, and reminders that identity is unconsciously shaped by culture.

1. ETHNOGRAPHY:
STUDYING JEWISH IDENTITY
BIBL-8031 | Jewish Identity & Continuity | Week 3

2. Studying Jewish Identity
1. Culture — The sea Jews live in out of which Jewish identity emerges
2. Ethnography — The way we exegete culture & understand identity
3. Qualitative Interviews — One tool to acquire data to understand identity
2

3. 1. Culture

4. De
fi
nition of Culture
A society's complex integrated coping mechanism consisting of
learned patterned concepts and behavior plus their underlying
perspectives (worldview) and resulting artifacts (material culture)
Kraft. (1996). Anthopology for a Christian Witness. Orbis Books. p. 38.

5. Culture is Learned
• Personality hardware
• Culture software
• Identity socially constructed

6. Culture is Learned
• Personality RAM
• Culture Mac OS Ventura
• Identity Settings & Pro
fi
le

7. Culture is unconscious
We are unaware of our own culture
We are unaware of our identity

8. Cultural Iceberg

9. Visible
Invisible

10. Behaviors
Religious Practice
Cultural Artifacts
Visible
Invisible

11. Behaviors
Religious Practice
Cultural Artifacts
Social Values
Political Beliefs
Religious Beliefs
Visible
Invisible

12. Behaviors
Religious Practice
Cultural Artifacts
Social Values
Political Beliefs
Religious Beliefs
Self-Identity
Visible
Invisible

13. Behaviors
Religious Practice
Cultural Artifacts
Social Values
Political Beliefs
Religious Beliefs
Self-Identity
Visible
Invisible
Worldview

14. Behaviors
Religious Practice
Cultural Artifacts
Social Values
Political Beliefs
Religious Beliefs
Self-Identity
Exegete
Worldview

15. Behaviors
Religious Practice
Cultural Artifacts
Social Values
Political Beliefs
Religious Beliefs
Self-Identity
Exegete
Understand
Worldview

16. Ethnography

17. Writing a description of a cultural group or situation using participant
observation and qualitative interviews. The product of the research is
an ethnography or written account of a culture, and its members’
lived experiences (identity).
Shalinsky, Audrey. Ethnographer. In James Birx Ed. Encyclopedia of anthropology. Vol. 1 Sage Publication. p. 849

18. Ethnography: Exegeting Culture
Culture Ethnographer

19. Ethnography: Exegeting Culture
Culture Ethnographer
Roles
Artifacts
Ways they Engage
Behaviors
Rituals

20. Ethnography: Exegeting Culture
Culture Ethnographer
Roles
Artifacts
Ways they Engage
Behaviors
Rituals
Ethnographer’s
Personal Biases

21. Ethnography: Exegeting Culture
Culture Ethnographer
Roles
Artifacts
Ways they Engage
Behaviors
Rituals
Reader
Report
Ethnographer’s
Personal Biases

22. Tools of Ethnography
• Qualitative Interviews — Interviewing Jewish participants
• Participant Observation — visiting a synagogue and observing interactions
• Archival Evidence — analyzing
fi
lm, literature, & history of Jewish identity
22

23. Woody Allen, Annie Hall (United Artists, 1977).

24. Jewish Identity in Woody Allen’s Films
• Reminder: Identity is Socially Constructed
24

25. Jewish Identity in Woody Allen’s Films
• Reminder: Identity is Socially Constructed
• How does Woody Allen describe Jewish culture?
25

26. Jewish Identity in Woody Allen’s Films
• Reminder: Identity is Socially Constructed
• How does Woody Allen describe Jewish culture?
• How does Woody Allen describe his own Jewish identity?
26

27. Jewish Identity in Woody Allen’s Films
• Reminder: Identity is Socially Constructed
• How does Woody Allen describe Jewish culture?
• How does Woody Allen describe his own Jewish identity?
• How does Woody Allen engage with his Jewishness (Jewish Engagement)?
27

28. Qualitative Interviews

29. Assignment: Qualitative Interviews
• Findings
Interview 3 participants &
fi
ll out one report (250 words) for each participant.
Visit 1 synagogue &
fi
ll out the participant observation report (250 words)
• Discussion (500 words)
Describe four themes in 2 or more pages.
State each theme as a proposition.
Explain each theme in your own words.
Substantiate each theme by quoting the participants and citing observations from your visit.
Discuss each theme by citing course literature. Cite at least 3 sources.
• Implications (250 words)
29

30. Who needs participants to interview?
• Yerusalem (Messianic Believer)
• Joyce Meyer (Messianic Believer)
• Adam Limmer (non-believer)
• Amy Limmer (non-believer)
• Jonathan Hops (non-believer)
• Lori Hops (non-believer)
• Dean Kaner (non-believer)
30